Legislative Update – February 16, 2024
Dear Neighbors,
This year’s legislative session began on Monday, February 12, and I have already begun attending committee hearings, meeting with constituents, and working alongside my colleagues to help working families, support critical infrastructure projects, and more.
This year I will continue to serve as Vice Chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Policy Committee as we ensure that tax dollars are spent responsibly on projects that will help Minnesotans for decades to come. I also serve on the Human Services Policy, Judiciary Finance and Civil Law, and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committees.
File for the Child Tax Credit!
Nearly 300,000 Minnesota households are eligible for the nation-leading Child Tax Credit the DFL passed last year! With our Child Tax Credit, families will save up to $1,750 for each dependent. Democrats are cutting child poverty by one-third with this rebate.
You can claim the tax credit by filing a 2023 income tax return. The $1,750 credit is for each child 17 years old and younger, with no limit on the number of children.
Minnesota families: If you qualify, file your taxes to make sure you claim the benefits available to you. More information, including qualification criteria, is available here: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/child-tax-credit
Insulin Prices Capped
Democrats are dedicated to helping reduce the cost of health care and protecting against price-gouging. Earlier this month, Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a landmark settlement with the Eli Lily insulin company that caps insulin at just $35 for the next 5 years.
Drug companies raised the price of insulin by over 1,100% between 1990 and 2020, and this settlement ensures that Minnesotans can afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect.
You can learn more about the settlement and how to get insulin for just $35 a month here: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/MNinsulin35/.
Queer Caucus 2024 Priorities
This week I was proud to open a press conference for the Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus, which you can watch here. As Vice Chair of the caucus, I am dedicated to advancing equity and supporting our Queer community throughout the state.
In the 2024 legislative session, we will work to safeguard our Queer neighbors who want to expand their families, ensure accessibility to PrEP and PEP, address other healthcare inequities, and protect our LGBTQIA2S+ community from discrimination and violence. You can read more in this Star Tribune article: People are flocking to Minnesota as a trans refuge. Providers are struggling to meet the demand.
Electric Vehicle Rebate
Last session, DFLers passed an Electric Vehicle Rebate Program allowing residents to receive a rebate of up to $2,500 for a new EV purchase and $600 for a used purchase. Electric cars, plug-ins or hybrids purchased or leased on or after May 25, 2023, are eligible. Applications are now live, and you can find more information at https://mn.gov/evrebates.
Stay Connected!
Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.brion.curran@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4342, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe!
Sincerely,
Brion Curran
State Representative